AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon join forces to eliminate mobile coverage dead zones
Key takeaways
- LENSHAPE/Shutterstock Stop the presses: not only are the big three US wireless carriers agreeing to a rare team-up, but it's on something that could really benefit consumers in the long-term.
- It sounds like an objectively productive initiative, but there is very likely a business benefit to all this too.
- T-Mobile currently has a deal with Starlink, and last year made its satellite texting feature free for a number of months (interestingly, even if you were with one of the carriers involved in the JV announced today).
LENSHAPE/Shutterstock Stop the presses: not only are the big three US wireless carriers agreeing to a rare team-up, but it's on something that could really benefit consumers in the long-term. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have announced a new Joint Venture that will see them work together to eliminate wireless dead zones in the US, with a specific focus boosting coverage in rural areas and underserved communities with satellites.
The trio of traditionally not-so friendly carriers said in a joint press release that they intend to pool their "limited spectrum resources to increase capacity, improve the customer experience, and help satellite providers reach more customers through a unified platform." This approach, they say, will "provide a better and more consistent customer experience across the industry."
The JV will seek to enable more satellite service providers to compete in the fast-growing market, and the carriers say they will work with mobile network operators in rural areas where coverage is often limited, simplifying the process of integrating direct-to-device (D2D) technologies.